Rack



Jan. 5, 1960 R. H. DUNBAR 2,919,809

' RACK Filed Dec. 19, 1958 FIG. 3.

FIG. 1. 18

FIG. 4.

INVEN TOR.

ROBERT H. DUNBAR A ORNEY.

Un s Sta s t '0 RACK Robert H. Dunbar, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to TheCal- Dak Company, Inc., San Gabriel, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 19, 1958, Serial No. 781,635

Claims. (Cl. 211-13) This invention relates to means for storing or carrying tray tables, and more particularly to a device for a simple and economical construction for holding collapsed tray tables in a portable compact position.

The device of the invention is a rack construction alternative to that shown in US. Patent No. 2,676,709 issued April 27, 1954, toFrancis J. Walsh. Tray tables identical to those shown in the Walsh patent may be stacked on the rack of the present invention.

The rack of the Walsh patent is unusually useful and convenient as a storage rack and is especially useful in displaying ornamental designs normally shown on trays of collapsible tray tables and for carrying the tray tables in a collapsed position. However, the trend of modern living is toward compact storage and more and more convenience in portability as well as towards simpler and more economical constructions.

The rack of the Walsh patent is satisfactory for many purposes; however, it employs scissors type legs which are necessarily not compact. When the handle portion of the Walsh patent is grasped, it leans to one side because the center of gravity of the rack system including a plurality of tray tables stacked thereon does not lie directly below the handle when the Walsh rack is set up.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of collapsed tray tables may be stacked on the rack of the invention and center of gravity of the system will lie directly below the handle. Still further, the rack of the invention with tray tables stacked on it all lie in an approximately vertical plane. This means that the rack of the present invention may be used to stack collapsed tray tables in a relatively compact position. In addition, the invention contemplates the use of simply two tubular members bent n a suitable shape to provide the rack of the invention.

The above-described and other advantages of the invention. may beobtained through the use of a tray table rack including an inverted U-shaped member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, the frame members being bent at their upper ends to hold the handle forward of the vertical plane, a projection fixed to each of the frame members intermediate their ends to extend upwardly and forwardly to support a plurality of tray tables thereon under the handle, and legs on the lower ends of the frame members extending forwardly and rearwardly to support the frame members in a substantially vertical position. Thus, due to the overhanging handle, the rack of the invention, when loaded with collapsed tray tables on the projections, has a center of gravity directly below the handle and is easily carried. Wheels may also be provided if it is desirable to roll the rack of the invention.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the use of a particular construction is made for simplicity and economy. This particular construction includes an inverted U-shaped tubular member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle, two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, and a second U-shaped tubular member fixed to the inverted U-shaped tubular member having a transverse portion to provide a foot and two vertical members extending upwardly in approximately the same vertical plane as the frame members of the inverted U- shaped member, the frame members of the second U- shaped member being bent upwardly and forwardly at their upper ends to support a plurality of tray tables thereon, the frame members of the second U-shaped member also being bent at their lower ends to hold the foot spaced from the plane, the frame members of the inverted U-shaped member being bent in the opposite direction of the foot to act as legs for support of the U-shaped members in the vertical plane. Thus, only two U-shaped tubular members need be employed in accordance with the invention for unusual simplicity and economy.

The invention will be better understood when considered in connection with the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which are to be regarded :as merely illustrative:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the rack of the invention with collapsed tray tables mounted thereon in a stacked position;

. Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the rack shown in Fig.1;-

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the rack shown in Fig. 2;-and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the leg portions taken on the line 4--4 of the rack shown in Fig. 21'

As shown in Fig. l, the rack of the invention indicated at 10 stands vertical to support a plurality of collapsed tray tables 11 on forwardly and upwardly bent extensions 12 of a U-shaped member 13. U-shaped member 13 is fixed inside of an inverted U-shaped member- 14 by means of rivets 15.

Inverted U-shaped member 14 is provided with a transverse portion 16 at its upper end to provide ahandle. Inverted U-shaped member 14 also includes two frame members-17 that extend substantially vertically in the same vertical plane but which have portions 18 at their upper ends bent forwardly to hold the transverse portion 16 in a plane forward of the plane of the frame members 17. This position of transverse portion 16 is approximately directly above the center of gravity of the system including the collapsed tray tables 11 mounted in the position shown in Fig. l with the rack 10 of the invention. Frame members 17 are bent rearwardly at their ends 19. Ends 19 then have wheels 20 rotatably mounted thereon for ease in transporting the cart 10 of the invention. Ends 19 of frame members 17 also provide rearwardly extending legs for the rack 10 of the invention.

Forwardly extending legs for the rack 10 of the invention are provided by the U-shaped member 13 which also has frame members 21 extending in substantially the same vertical plane as that of frame members 17. Frame members 21 have lower ends 22 which are bent downwardly and forwardly from the vertical plane of frame members 17 to provide front legs for the rack 10. U-shaped member 13 is also provided with a transverse portion or foot 23 which extends from ends 22 of frame members 21 for stability in holding both frame members 21 together and both the frame members 17 together as well as supporting the rack 10 at a position forward of the plane of frame members 17 and 21.

Summarizing, the present invention provides the rack 10 including a handle 16 suspended approximately above the center of gravity of the system of the rack 10 and tray tables 11 as shown in Fig. 1 for ease in carrying Patented Jan. 5, 1960,

and may include simply the use of two U-shaped members l3 and 14 bent to suitable shapes for simplicity and economy. Still further, it is to be noted that the system of the rack l0 and collapsed tray tables 11 stacked thereon shown 11 Fig. l faclitates unusually compact storage.

Although only one specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, changes and modifications will, of course, suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A tray table rack comprising: an inverted U-shaped tubular member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their upper ends to hold said handle forward of said vertical plane, said frame members being bent in a rearward direction at their lower ends to provide legs for support of said frame members in said vertical plane; a second U-shaped tubular member fixed inside of said inverted U-shaped tubular member having a transverse portion to provide a foot and two vertical frame members extending upwardly in approximately the same vertical plane as said frame members of said inverted U-shaped member, said frame members of said second U-shaped member being bent upwardly and forwardly at their upper ends to support a plurality of tray tables thereon, said frame members of said second U-shaped member also being bent at their lower ends to hold said foot spaced forwardly from said plane; and a wheel on each of the ends of said frame members of said inverted U-shaped member.

2. A tray table rack comprising: an inverted U-shaped tubular member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their upper ends to hold said handle forward of said vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their lower ends for providing legs to support the rack; a second U-shaped member shorter than said inverted U-shaped member and having a frame member fixed to a lower portion of each corresponding frame member of said inverted U-shaped member, the upper ends of said frame members of said second Ushaped member also being bent forwardly of said vertical plane to support a plurality of tray tables thereon, said frame members of said second U-shaped member being bent at their lower ends in a direction opposite the direction in which corresponding frame members of said inverted U-shaped member are bent to provide two additional legs to support the rack.

3. A tray table rack comprising: an inverted U-shaped tubular member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their upper ends to hold said handle forward of said vertical plane,

said frame members being bent at their lower ends for providing legs to support the rack; a second U-shaped member positioned upright, said second U-shaped member being shorter than said inverted U-shaped member and having a frame member fixed to a lower portion of each corresponding frame member of said inverted U- shaped member, the upper ends of said frame members of said second U-shaped member also being bent forwardly of said vertical plane to support a plurality of tray tables thereon, said frame members of said second U-shaped member being bent at their lower ends in a direction opposite the direction in which corresponding frame members of said inverted U-shaped member are bent to provide two additional legs to support the rack.

4. A tray table rack comprising: an inverted U-shaped tubular member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two vertical frame members extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their upper ends to hold said handle forward of said vertical plane, said frame members being bent at their lower ends for providing legs to support the rack; a second U-shaped member shorter than said inverted U-shaped member and having a frame member fixed to a lower portion of each corresponding frame member of said inverted U-shaped member, the upper ends of the frame members of said second U-shaped member being bent both upwardly and forwardly of said vertical plane to support a plurality of tray tables thereon, said frame members of said second U-shaped members being bent at their lower ends in a direction opposite the direction in which corresponding frame members of said inverted U-shaped member are bent to provide two additional legs to support the rack.

5. A tray table rack comprising: an inverted generally U-shaped member having an upper transverse portion to provide a handle and two side portions extending downwardly in approximately the same vertical plane, said side portions being bent out of said vertical plane at their lower ends for providing legs to support the rack; and a frame member shorter than said U-shaped member fixed to a lower portion of each side portion thereof, the upper end of each frame member being bent forwardly of said vertical plane, at least a portion of the upper ends of said frame members also being bent upwardly to hold tray tables thereon in a compact vertical position, said frame members being bent at their lower ends out of said vertical plane to extend from sides thereof opposite the sides from which the lower ends of said U-shaped member side portions extend to provide two additional legs to support the rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,555,722 Wilkie June 5, 1951 2,676,709 Walsh Apr. 25, 1954 2,830,779 Wentling Apr. 15, 1958 

